Yank automakers sometimes take the brunt of the criticism for producing models that are ugly, pointless, or downright deadly. Ford has had its share of beasts thru the years in addition to several winners including the current Mustang for which demand cannot be met. For the thrill of it let’s have a look at some of the Ford models that have been derided down thru the years.
Model T – What?! How can the car that introduced mass production make the list? Well, the vehicle was fine, but Mr. Henry Ford’s statement, “you can have any color you need so long as long as it is black” has been ascribed with the upward push of General Motors [who gave its buyers a choice in colors] which ultimately unseaetd Ford as the top automaker in the planet. No, the Model T was fine, but Mr. Ford’s advertising strategy was not.
Edsel – In September 1957, Ford launched a new division – Edsel – and introduced to America one of the most peculiar looking autos. Wearing a “horse-collar” formed grille – some compared it with a toilet seat – the Edsel line was hyped by Ford and rejected by buyers resolutely. Expecting to build 200,000 Edsels in its first year of production, only 63,000 were built. Other “radical” sides of the Edsel included a “floating” speedometer that glowed on reaching a particular speed and an awkward push button transmission with controls attached to the hub of the wheel. Even with a quick makeover finished in time for the next model year, the Edsel limped along only to be pulled one month after the third model year autos were released.
Pinto – Hey, even I owned one! With a 2.3L inline four cylinder twinned with a 4 speed manny tranny, the Pinto was Ford’s answer during the 1970s to the onslaught of Jap autos flooding the market. The compact rear wheel drive coupe, 3 door hatch, or truck sold reasonably well until disaster hit : the revelation the Pinto’s gas tank was capable of exploding in a rear impact scared buyers away. Mercifully pulled after the 1980 model year; replaced by the favored Escort.
Mustang II – Ford tarnished the Mustang name in the 1970s with this unmemorable and hideous model. Resembling a bloated and stretched Pinto, the Mustang II was weak, poorly made, and an awful competitor against its arch rival, the Camaro. All was forgiven by the early 1980s with the return of a newly designed Mustang. Today’s Mustang, on the other hand, is a sold-out success story as it took its styling cues from a Mustang of another time : the fastback autos of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Before you point your finger at Ford, don’t forget to recall some truly forgettable models, foreign and domestic. The Toyota Wagon was panned for its hideous styling and for having an engine that needed to be dropped from the engine bay to do a tune up; the Chevy Vega – a Pinto wannabe; AMC’s Pacer – the Jetson’s vehicle ; the Suzuki Samurai and Isuzu Rodeo – flip over specialists; the Yugo – a thinly redone 1960s era Fiat; and countless other vehicles not worth the mention. You hope that automakers learn from their mistakes, but do not count on it. Perhaps in another generation we are going to see a really forgettable Ford show up, except for now there is not one in the line up…hooray for that!.
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